the hispanic nations of the new world-第14章
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ip to its adhering grains； broke into private houses； destroyed everything light blue within reach； and maltreated the unfortunate occupants at will。 No man was safe also who did not give his face a leonine aspect by wearing a mustache and sidewhiskersemblems； the one of 〃federalism；〃 and the other of 〃independence。〃 To possess a visage bare of these hirsute adornments or a countenance too efflorescent in that respect was； under a regime of tonsorial politics； to invite personal disaster！ Nothing apparently was too cringing or servile to show how submissive the people were to the mastery of Rosas。 Private vengeance and defamation of the innocent did their sinister work unchecked。 Even when his arbitrary treatment of foreigners had compelled France for a while to institute a blockade of Buenos Aires； the wily dictator utilized the incident to turn patriotic resentment to his own advantage。
Meanwhile matters in Uruguay had come to such a pass that Rosas saw an opportunity to extend his control in that direction also。 Placed between Brazil and the Argentine Confederation and so often a bone of contention； the little country was hardly free from the rule of the former state when it came near falling under the domination of the latter。 Only a few years of relative tranquillity had elapsed when two parties sprang up in Uruguay： the 〃Reds〃 （Colorados） and the 〃Whites〃 （Blancos）。 Of these； the one was supposed to represent the liberal and the other the conservative element。 In fact； they were the followings of partisan chieftains； whose struggles for the presidency during many years to come retarded the advancement of a country to which nature had been generous。
When Fructuoso Rivera； the President up to 1835； thought of choosing some one to be elected in constitutional fashion as his successor； he unwisely singled out Manuel Oribe； one of the famous 〃Thirty…three〃 who had raised the cry of independence a decade before。 But instead of a henchman he found a rival。 Both of them straightway adopted the colors and bid for the support of one of the local factions； and both appealed to the factions of the Argentine Confederation for aid； Rivera to the Unitaries and Oribe to the Federalists。 In 1843； Oribe； at the head of an army of Blancos and Federalists and with the moral support of Rosas； laid siege to Montevideo。 Defended by Colorados； Unitaries； and numerous foreigners； including Giuseppe Garibaldi； the town held out valiantly for eight yearsa feat that earned for it the title of the 〃New Troy。〃 Anxious to stop the slaughter and destruction that were injuring their nationals； France； Great Britain； and Brazil offered their mediation； but Rosas would have none of it。 What the antagonists did he cared little； so long as they enfeebled the country and increased his chances of dominating it。 At length； in 1845； the two European powers established a blockade of Argentine ports； which was not lifted until the dictator grudgingly agreed to withdraw his troops from the neighboring republic。
More than any other single factor； this intervention of France and Great Britain administered a blow to Rosas from which he could not recover。 The operations of their fleets and the resistance of Montevideo had lowered the prestige of the dictator and had raised the hopes of the Unitaries that a last desperate effort might shake off his hated control。 In May； 1851； Justo Jose de Urquiza； one of his most trusted lieutenants； declared the independence of his own province and called upon the others to rise against the tyrant。 Enlisting the support of Brazil； Uruguay； and Paraguay； he assembled a 〃great army of liberation；〃 composed of about twenty…five thousand men； at whose head he marched to meet the redoubtable Rosas。 On February 3；1852； at a spot near Buenos Aires； the man of might who； like his contemporary Francia in Paraguay； had held the Argentine Confederation in thralldom for so many years； went down to final defeat。 Embarking on a British warship he sailed for England； there to become a quiet country gentleman in a land where gauchos and dictators were unhonored。
In the meantime Paraguay； spared from such convulsion as racked its neighbor on the east； dragged on its secluded existence of backwardness and stagnation。 Indians and half…castes vegetated in ignorance and docility； and the handful of whites quaked in terror； while the inexorable Francia tightened the reins of commercial and industrial restriction and erected forts along the frontiers to keep out the pernicious foreigner。 At his death； in 1840； men and women wept at his funeral in fear perchance； as one historian remarks； lest he come back to life； and the priest who officiated at the service likened the departed dictator to Caesar and Augustus！
Paraguay was destined； however； to fall under a despot far worse than Francia when in 1862 Francisco Solano Lopez became President。 The new ruler was a man of considerable intelligence and education。 While a traveler in Europe he had seen much of its military organizations； and he had also gained no slight acquaintance with the vices of its capital cities。 This acquired knowledge he joined to evil propensities until he became a veritable monster of wickedness。 Vain； arrogant； reckless； absolutely devoid of scruple； swaggering in victory； dogged in defeat； ferociously cruel at all times； he murdered his brothers and his best friends； he executed； imprisoned； or banished any one whom he thought too influential； he tortured his mother and sisters； and； like the French Terrorists； he impaled his officers upon the unpleasant dilemma of winning victories or losing their lives。 Even members of the American legation suffered torment at his hands； and the minister himself barely escaped death。
Over his people； Lopez wielded a marvelous power； compounded of persuasive eloquence and brute force。 If the Paraguayans had obeyed their earlier masters blindly； they were dumb before this new despot and deaf to other than his word of command。 To them he was the 〃Great Father；〃 who talked to them in their own tongue of Guarani； who was the personification of the nation； the greatest ruler in the world； the invincible champion who inspired them with a loathing and contempt for their enemies。 Such were the traits of a man and such the traits of a people who waged for six years a warfare among the most extraordinary in human annals。
What prompted Lopez to embark on his career of international madness and prosecute it with the rage of a demon is not entirely clear。 A vision of himself as the Napoleon of southern South America； who might cause Brazil； Argentina； and Uruguay to cringe before his footstool； while he disposed at will of their territory and fortunes； doubtless stirred his imagination。 So； too； the thought of his country； wedged in between two huge neighbors and threatened with suffocation between their overlapping folds； may well have suggested the wisdom of conquering overland a highway to the sea。 At all events； he assembled an army of upwards of ninety thousand men； the greatest military array that Hispanic America had ever seen。 Though admirably drilled and disciplined； they were poorly armed； mostly with flintlock muskets； and they were also deficient in artillery except that of antiquated pattern。 With this mighty force at his back； yet knowing that the neighboring countries could eventually call into the field armies much larger in size equipped with repeating rifles and supplied with modern artillery； the 〃Jupiter of Paraguay〃 nevertheless made ready to launch his thunderbolt。
The primary object at which he aimed was Uruguay。 In this little state the Colorados； upheld openly or secretly by Brazil and Argentina； were conducting a 〃crusade of liberty〃 against the Blanco government at Montevideo； which was favored by Paraguay。 Neither of the two great powers wished to see an alliance formed between Uruguay and Paraguay； lest when united in this manner the smaller nations might become too strong to tolerate further intervention in their affairs。 For her part； Brazil had motives for resentment arising out of boundary disputes with Paraguay and Uruguay； as well as out of the inevitable injury to its nationals inflicted by the commotions in t
